A renowned sub-zone endowed with a valuable terroir, a place where viticulture is exclusively practiced on the hills, reaching up to 500 meters of altitude, on sedimentary soils predominantly made up of sandstone.
The territory is crossed by three rivers that give life to different valleys. The Acerreta valley presents soils that are a particular mix of sandstone and limestone marl and yields Sangiovese wines that combine tannic density and vitality, fruit and minerality, and a certain potential for aging. The vast and more ventilated valley of Tramazzo, with its deeper soils, gives life to fruity, fresh and elegant wines, forgoing complexity and warmth. The third valley – Ibola – has leaner soils made up of pure sandstone and is considerable covered by woods: the vineyards cover a smaller area and the wines produced bring out a very particular aroma (of spices and herbs) as well as fine and remarkable sapidity/tannins.
The sub-zone covers the municipality of Modigliana, a territory in the Apennines that is divided into three valleys which are named after rivers present in the area (Acereta, Tramazzo and Ibola)
300-600 m asl
Completely composed of arenaceous marl, in which sandstone content significantly prevails over the marls. The soil is shallow and loose, containing an average level of limestone.
The Rocca of Modigliana
Built on a pre-existing structure from the Early Middle Ages, construction of the Rocca dates back to when the Guidi counts ruled over Modigliana, in the 12th and 13th centuries. The once massive and austere structure is now in ruins. The eastern side remains well-preserved and clearly visible from the road that, through Mount Trebbio, leads to Dovadola: from this position, a more ancient, parallelepiped-shaped structure can be seen, its wall made up of river stones probably being the original center of the Rocca. From the western side, the castle reveals a massive "crack" that shows the inside of the colossal tower, which is made up of four domed rooms lying one on top of the other.
The area of Bertinoro, also known as “the Balcony of Romagna”, rises on calcareous, organogenic and gentle hills, between 100 and 250 m asl.
100-350 m asl
With the exception of Casola Valsenio and the small town of Zattaglia, where vineyards rise up to 450 meters, the heart of production of Brisighella can be divided into three distinct sections.
180-500 m asl
Castrocaro boasts 3 historically suitable areas that remarkably differ from one another.
80-300 m asl
Viticulture in Cesena is carried out in two distinct areas.
60-250 m asl
Sangiovese has been intensely cultivated in the area of Rimini up until 1860 but was then abandoned because not deemed to have enough alcohol content.
An extensive sub-zone stretching along the Via Aemilia, between the cities of Imola and Bologna.
60-400 m asl
The Rubicone Valley boasts hills that resemble terraces overlooking the sea. The winegrowing area is divided into three different sections and are located between 100 and 300 meters asl.
60-300 m asl
Marzeno stretches along the valley of the homonymous river, particularly along its final part.
100-200 m asl
Encircled by Bertinoro and Predappio, on the right of the Bidente River, Meldola has the least vineyard area among the 16 sub-zones of the denomination despite being a vast territory.
100-150 m asl
The largest sub-area of the denomination and one of the least cultivated with vines.
160-400 m asl
Stretching halfway between Faenza and Forlì, the area is home to high-quality viticulture at the foothills, around 70 meters asl, as well as on the hills.
60-200 m asl
Predappio hints to a mineral and long-lived Sangiovese distinguished by vigorous tannins and not by young fruit.
120-400 m asl
San Clemente aims to characterize the hottest area of Rimini, with its gypsum and more colorful clays, presenting well-composed wines endowed with great acidity.
The sub-zone of Serra can be divided into four sections. The first, starting from the north, has fertile, deep and clayey-ferrous soils that give rise to fruity and lively reds.
Verucchio stretches along the valley of the Marecchia River, from the Via Aemilia to the Apennines.
50-450 m asl